Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania

From the time I was a small child my sister & grandmother told me that my real father was someone other then the person who raised me. My mother would never admit the truth. After she passed away I discovered that I have a different blood type the both of my parents which leads me to believe they told me the truth.

I have been trying to find out anything about him for 21 years. I only had the name "Buddy" and his last name. Up until a few weeks ago I thought Buddy was his real name. It is a nickname people in the neighborhood called him. At least once a year I would try to find him via the Internet and for the first time I saw his real name was Edward "Buddy". His wife past away and it was in her obituary.

He past away in 1996. Apparently the family had a huge battle over his assets in 2005. It seems he hid a few million dollars in cash & one of his daughters wanted her share. My understanding is she won the case.

How difficult will it be to prove he was my father? And if I can prove it is it possible that I could be entitled to a portion of his estate?


Asked on 8/14/11, 6:40 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Rachel Hunter

After this much time, very difficult. There may be time periods for establishing paternity and after 10 years, you might be beyond that.

Even if you can overcome this burden, you are going to have to get a DNA test, which means that you are going to have to get the body exhumed (if his daughter will consent) or you will have to find a surviving male relative of the deceased.

Assuming that you can prove that he was indeed your father and you can still present a claim, then you can recover.

You do not indicate whether another man ever adopted you. If so, this may have cut off any rights of inheritance.

I suggest that you speak to a probate lawyer in the county/state where your presumptive father lived to ascertain what rights you might have and how you will go about establishing paternity.

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Answered on 8/15/11, 12:51 pm


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